Page 72 of Rough Ride

She smiled, but then she felt it fade. She cupped his face again and leaned in for a slow, wet kiss. “I won’t leave you, Eli. I love you.”

He didn’t say anything for a few moments. She started to wonder if she made a mistake, but she fought the urge to take it back. Loving him wasn’t a mistake. It might not be smart, and it caused so many issues that she didn’t even want to think about it, but it would never be a mistake.

Eli still said nothing as he stepped back and took her hand. The house was still quiet, just the two of them, as he led her up the stairs to his room. He let go of her hand and bent down to pick her up. He walked into his room and laid her on the bed. He undressed her slowly, kissing and loving every inch of her. He slid his tongue over her body. He left no part of her flesh untouched.

When she was nude, he undressed, his gaze on hers. It had been two weeks of pleasure, of play, and now this. He climbed on the bed with her and pulled her up. He sat back, slowly entering her. Together, they moved. No hurry, no rush. This was about feeling, about love. It was about mutual pleasure, sharing together this one moment in time.

She bent her head back as he kissed her throat. His teeth grazed along her jaw as he licked and nibbled her sensitive skin. Crysta wanted this to last forever.

“God, your skin is the most amazing thing,” he said. “So sweet and tempting…it’s like you’re made of honey.”

She shivered, loving the way he talked to her. She always did. The lazy pleasure they took in their bodies soon dissolved into the rising need of completion. The urge grew and almost without warning, her orgasm exploded through her. She convulsed as she whispered his name. He kissed her then, thrusting up into her once more, and followed her into bliss.

* * *

The creak of the floor was the only thing that gave Eli a warning that someone was in the house. He slipped off the bed, taking his handgun with him.

“I would rather you not shoot me, St. John,” Dillon said from the hallway. “And I really don’t want to embarrass Ms. Miller the first time I meet her.”

Turning, he walked away.

“Wait. What?” Crysta said starting to wake up. She was nude, of course, the sheet falling to her waist as she sat up.

Eli sighed. “It’s Dillon, love. He apparently doesn’t understand when I say I can handle things on my own.”

He leaned down and gave her a long kiss. “Let’s see what he wants.”

By the time the two of them made it to the kitchen, Dillon was already making coffee. “I take it you didn’t bring Jillian with you?”

He shook his head. “She’s still in the self-imposed deadline area. The woman is tyrannical about her writing time.”

Dillon smiled at Crysta. “Crysta Miller I assume. Nice to meet you. Sorry about waking you up, but I made coffee.”

“Thank you for making yourself at home, Dillon,” Eli said, but he wasn’t going to complain beyond that.

A good cup of coffee would get his blood pumping. Of course, the sex he had wanted would’ve been better, but Eli didn’t see a way of getting that to happen now.

“I didn’t want to waste time. I’ve gone over everything and we have little to go on. But, there is one person I think we both need to talk to, and I don’t want to involve the authorities.”

“I don’t like the sound of that,” Crysta said.

Both men ignored her and her snort was filled with disgust.

“Who?” Eli asked.

“Sean Kaheaku.”

“He wasn’t here. He was on Oahu,” Crysta said.

“Yeah, but he’s got something going on. I can’t get into his records, and he was back that night. There’s another problem.”

“What?”

“He had a meeting on Oahu with his stepbrother. Then, five thousand dollars was transferred from Sean to Sam’s account. Sam also acted suspiciously while he was on the island. He was out buying ammo. We need to figure out what those two are up to. I want you with me, St. John.”

“And I’m going,” Crysta said.

“No.” Both men said it at the same time. Eli knew from the determined look on her face, they had a fight on their hands.

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